Our daughter Ashley came into this world with no heartbeat, not breathing and suffering a brachial plexus injury diagnosed as Brachial Erb's Palsy. Her C5, C6, and C7 nerves were stretched from her spine paralyzing her entire arm and all she could do was open and close her fingers. At 10 days old Ashley began occupational therapy focusing on range of motion and gaining use of her arm. At 2 years old Ashley required arthroscopic capsular release surgery to put her "ball and socket" back together in her shoulder. Continuing with occupational and physical therapies, Ashley gained some strength and more use of her arm. At 7 years old, Ashley underwent her second surgery, a humeral osteotomy. This was an invasive surgery requiring doctors to cut her humorous, rotate the bone in her shoulder and place a plate with 6 screws. The goal was for her to be able to turn her palm up with her elbow at her side. Ashley's last and final "surgical" procedure took place her junior year of high school when she received a Botox injection into her bicep muscle followed by serial casting to improve the straightness of her elbow.

Over the past 20 years, Ashley has endured surgeries, therapies, splints, and exercises to ensure range of motion and mobility of her arm, however her pain levels have increased beyond measure. In her words, "it never stops." Finding a comfortable position to sleep is at times next to impossible. The consistent writing at school causes tension and increased pain. She has tried topical creams and ointments, heating pads, ice packs, elevating with pillows, patches and oral medicines. Nothing helps. Most recently, Ashley visited a pain management specialist who unfortunately told her there is nothing they can do for her. This was not the news we were hoping for.

Ashley has lived in pain for her entire life and we have exhausted all other measures for relief so we have decided to take the steps in acquiring a service dog for mobility assistance and pain management. It will be trained to help Ashley with difficult daily tasks such as dressing, opening and closing things, picking up dropped objects, carrying light bags, etc. It will also provide deep pressure therapy for when Ashley's pain is uncontrollable. This does not come at a small cost and we need some help. Ashley and her dad will be traveling to Washington state in August to meet her dog. This is our last resort to help Ashley find some comfort and quality of life.

Please help us help Ashley. We greatly appreciate anything you can do.